Mary Cornwell
Growing companies need more than a PEO can offer. I build full-cycle HR infrastructure — from hiring through succession planning — so your business can run without one.
Strategy that shows up in the numbers
For more than 25 years, Mary has built the full-cycle HR infrastructure that produces measurable business results:
From recruiting through succession planning, Mary has spent more than 25 years building full-cycle HR infrastructure for organizations spanning healthcare, heavy construction, federal IT contracting, and non-profits.
Across multiple employers — including guiding organizations through the transition off a PEO — Mary has stood up in-house HR functions built to last.
A cross-industry HR executive who builds infrastructure that lasts
Mary Cornwell is a seasoned HR executive with more than 25 years leading people strategy and building HR infrastructure for organizations of every size — including healthcare, heavy construction, federal IT contracting, and non-profit organizations. She is also the founder of Apropos HR Solutions, LLC.
The strongest HR strategies aren’t one-size-fits-all — they’re shaped by the industry, the regulations, and the people in front of you.
Mary's career has been defined by building the full employee lifecycle from the ground up for multiple employers — recruiting, onboarding, compensation and benefits, performance management, training and development, and succession planning. She has particular experience helping growing companies transition off a PEO and stand up their own in-house HR function without losing momentum along the way.
Whether she's building HR infrastructure from scratch or strengthening what's already in place, Mary consistently focuses on aligning HR strategy with operational success.
Most businesses don't stall because of their market. They stall because of people.
You already know your people drive your results. You just don't have the time — or the in-house expertise — to build the systems that get the most from them. That's where I come in. As your fractional CHRO, I install proven talent strategy and HR systems that are repeatable, scalable, and built for your business.
Book a Free Discovery CallWhere Mary creates the most value
Deep specialization across the full spectrum of human resources leadership — with an eye always on retention, engagement, and performance.
Full-Lifecycle HR Infrastructure
Building the recruiting, onboarding, compensation, performance, and succession systems that carry a company from its first hire to its five-hundredth.
PEO Transition & In-House HR Buildout
Guiding growing companies off a PEO and into an in-house HR function without losing coverage, compliance, or momentum along the way.
Talent Acquisition & Recruiting
Designing recruiting systems that consistently bring in the right people for the right roles.
Organizational Culture & Employee Engagement
Shaping culture and engagement strategies that turn stated values into everyday behavior.
Group Facilitation & Training
Running hands-on workshops and training sessions that build real skills managers and teams can use right away.
Workforce Compliance & Labor Relations
Multi-state and international workforce compliance, federal contractor SCA requirements, and productive labor union relationships.
The challenges that quietly cap your growth
Attracting and retaining the right people?
The talent who can actually drive your business results, and the systems to keep them.
People processes that don't run efficiently?
Hiring, onboarding, performance, and pay that should run like clockwork, but don't.
A culture that's undefined or dividing the team?
Misalignment and disorder that quietly erode engagement and profit.
If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone. Businesses of every size face them. Mary is ready to help you overcome them.
Let's TalkWorking with Mary Cornwell
What does Mary Cornwell do?
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Schedule time with Mary
If you're ready to build repeatable, scalable people operations that produce results, let's start the conversation.
